Turtle Bay’s pool bar provided the perfect backdrop for Amp Energy’s Turtle Bay Women’s Pro and Go Pro’s Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge, presented by Starboard as a wealth of talent from all over the world showed up to one of the most intimate arenas in ocean sports. Here we see Benoit Carpentier (Naish) putting it all on the line at Pool Bars and click here to watch the highlights

In a fiercely fought out and widely anticipated first event on the all new Women’s Stand up World Tour, the action was impressive as talented athletes from all over the world stepped up to do battle at Turtle Bay.

Nicole Pacelli from Brazil took part in the 2012 Sunset Beach Pro and turned heads with an impressive display of bravado and surfing talent. In 2013, Nicole took it to the next level to take the title at Stop 1 of the 2013 Stand Up World Tour amidst a stacked field of international athletes

Poenaiki Raioha wins the Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge

The youth have become such a driving force in the development of the sport of Stand up Paddling, highlighted in 2012 by Benoit Carpentier from France reaching multiple semifinals, Mo Freitas (Body Glove / Focus) winning the Ubatuba Pro and the young Tahitian Poenaiki Raioha (Naish) finishing in 2nd place in the Sapinus Pro.

Well this year’s Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge looked more like a main event of the Stand up World Tour, as unprecedented talent hit the water at Turtle Bay for the now prestigious Title of Na Kama Kai Champion.

From the very beginning, Poenaiki put on one of the most complete surfing performances of the day, combining speed power and flow to impress the judges and earn the win amidst the formidable talent in attendance. There is no doubt that this young star of just 15 years of age has greatness ahead of him as he now prepares to do battle in the Main event of the Sunset Beach Pro starting tomorrow, Friday 8th February. Watch it live at sunsetbeachpro.standupworldtour.com/stream.php

Candice Appleby proves to be one of the stand outs of the day as expected, finishing in a close second in the Final after some strong performances throughout the day.

As one of the biggest supporters for the launch of the all new Women’s Stand Up World Tour, second place will stand her in good stead for a shot at the Title as the Tour will now head to Brazil in April.

The young Vanina Walsh put on a performance beyond her years in the Final of the Turtle Bay Women’s Pro, clearly showing that she is a force to be reckoned with as the Women’s Tour develops and she comes of age.

However, she is not alone, as the list of women’s talent pushing the limits in the sport is astounding, from Hannah Frenton, 4th place finisher in this inaugural event of the World Tour, Halie Harrison (Focus) and not to mention outer island girls Kanani Yockman (Rogue) and Mariko Strickland (Naish). Congratulations go out to all the women who took part in the inaugural Turtle Bay Women’s Pro.

It is exciting times for women’s surfing and we look forward to a competitive year ahead, as rivalries are born and Title Races are won at lost in the waves of Hawaii, Brazil, California and France. Stay tuned to www.standupworldtour.com

Following on from his incredible performance back at the Ubatuba Pro Brazil in 2012, Mo Freitas (Body Glove / Focus) put on another clinic of North Shore rail to rail power surfing as he ripped his way into 2nd place in a star studded youth Final.

Now a regular on the Stand Up World Tour, finishing in 7th place in 2012, Benoit Carpentier (Naish) put on a stellar performance in the Na Kama Kai Youth Challenge, clearly showing that he means business here at Stop 1 of the Stand Up World Tour at Sunset. After finishing in 7th place overall in the 2013 season, you can expect great things from this young Frenchman at just 16 years old.

While attention has been focused on the young talent coming out of the Hawaiian Islands, the young Tucker Ingalls (Naish) showed that there is also a budding field of US mainland athletes coming to the fore and that he is a force to be reckoned with: finishing in the Finals of the Na Kama Kai Challenge, Tucker will be competing in the Trials of the Sunset Beach Pro tomorrow.

Make sure to check out a playback of this morning’s live Starboard morning show from Surfer the Bar in Turtle Bay, where Zane Schweitzer interviews World #4 Robin Johnston (Mistral) and local wildcard Makua Rothman, with some unique insights into the sport, the Tour and much more. You can watch it by clicking here

Make sure to tune into sunsetbeachpro.standupworldtour.com/stream.php to watch it all live as history is once again made at Sunset Beach, and the world’s best face high surf in the first stop on the quest towards the 2013 World Title.

The forecast is looing incredible, with building swell through tomorrow reach warning levels and a high surf advisory in effect for Saturday and Sunday. So make sure to tune in to watch a weekend to remember as Stop 1 of the Stand Up World Tour will get underway in style.

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